EDIBLE EISHES OE NEW SOUTH WALES. 145 



The Rock "Whiting is common in the Port Jackson District, but from the 

 want of local observers we are unable to say how far its range extends up 

 the coast beyond Port Stephens, from the neighborhood of which we have 

 received one example ; to the southward it increases in numbers, and is, 

 remarks Castelnau, "very common all the year round in the Melbourne 

 market, and is moderately-esteemed as food." In Tasmania, as in Victoria, 

 it is known as the " Stranger," but this name does not necessarily signify 

 that it is a rare fish, but more probably that, as elsewhere, it is rarely caught ; 

 Johnston, writing of it, remarks ; — ■" The Stranger is caught occasionally in 

 the upper waters of the estuaries of the Derwent, and is in fair estimation 

 for the market." 



Griinther considers that Steindachner's Odax lijirtlii is the same as the 

 present species, and, if this view be correct, which Klunzinger {loc. cit. p. 

 405) denies, its western range mtist be extended to King George's Sound. 



Our Rock Whiting attains to a length of sixteen inches, and individuals 

 meastiriuff over twelve inches are of common occurrence. 



Genus VII.— OLISTHEROPS. 



Olisthops, Richards. Ann. Nat. Hist. (2) 1851, vii. p. 290, andVvoc. Zool. Soc. 



1850, p. 74. 

 Olistherops, Giinther, Catal. Pish. iv. p. 243, 1862. 



Branchiostegals five : pseudobranchia3 present. Body oblong and com- 

 pressed. Snout of moderate extent. Jaws composed of numerous teeth 

 firmly anchylosed together, the extreme tip only being free ; no distinct 

 teeth anteriorh^ : dentigerous plate of the hypopharyngeal triangular, much 

 broader than long, with a narrow anterior process, bearing about four sti'ongly 

 compressed conical teeth on its anterior half ; body of the bone with a 

 median transverse band of minute pavement-like teeth, and an outer series 

 of rudimentary teeth. One dorsal fin, with seventeen or eighteen flexible 

 spines ; the anal with two or three. Scales of moderate size ; head with a 

 Pew scales on and above the opercle. Lateral line continuous. 



Geograpliical distribution. — Coasts of temperate Australia. 



OLISTHEROPS CYANOMELAS. 



Olisthops cj/auomelas, Richards. Ann. Nat. Hist. (2) 1851, vii. p. 290, and 

 Proc. Zool, Soc. 1850, p. 74 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Pish. ii. p. . 



Olistlierops hrunneus, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, iii. n. 36, pi. v. 

 f. 1. 



Herring Cale. 



B. v. D. 17/10. A. 2/10. V. 1/1. P 18. C. 13. L. lat. 50 L. tr. 7/15. 



Vert. 19/20. 



Length of head 5-25, of caudal fin 5 40, height of body 4-75 in the total 

 length. Eye small, its diameter 5-60 in the length of the head, 190 in that 

 of the pointed snout, and I'OO in the slightly convex interorbital space. 

 Nasal apertures moderately close together, the anterior pierced in the centre 

 of a circular depression, largerand on a slightly higher level than the posterior, 

 which abuts upon tlie orbital ring ; the openings of both concealed by skin. 

 Snout strongly convex in front, the upper surface of the head flat; upper 

 jaw the longer. Cleft of mouth small and horizontal, the maxilla reaching to 

 beneatli the anterior no.stril. The dorsal fin commences above the base of 



K 



